Page 7 of Unfolding Ethan

“Truth? About what?”

My heart froze hearing his deep voice when he stood across me. A small frown etched on his hooded brow, his mismatched eyes fleeting between me and Katherine, who was suddenly interested in the little studs of her watch.

I coughed, looking at her for help.

“Truth about how Kiara is thinking of publishing her manuscript, eh?” She threw me under the bus.

Before I could say anything, Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Really? That’s wonderful. I didn’t know you were planning to—”

I finally found my voice and managed to utter, “I was just thinking about it and told it to her.”

His eyes sparkled and a small smile tugged his full lips. “I want to know more about it later.” Ethan leaned down and I held my breath, my pulse rising when his lips landed on my forehead. “See you at swim practice, Bella. Katherine.”

I sighed dreamily, watching the muscles on his back when he walked away. He had the habit of calling me Bella, which means beautiful in Italian, ever since we were kids. I thought it was cute when we were kids, but now, I think he called me that out of his old habit.

“Jesus, just fuck already!”

“Katherine David Wilson.”

“What? It’s true. You both have those cute fuck-me eyes and even Ryan noticed. Talk about being weird.”

If Ryan noticed it then it was weird because he got brain fog every time he was around Katherine and nothing existed to him except her.

Biting my lip, I wondered if Ethan had the cute fuck-me eyes. “No way, Kat. He’s my best friend. He doesn’t look at me like . . . likethat.”

Does he?No, no, of course he didn’t. He was my best friend and we had been that way since we started wearing diapers. My mom considered him her own son even though looking at him as my brother made me want to puke my insides. Maybe Katherine was just saying that to make me feel good about my silly crush on him. Ethan just lost his best friend and first girlfriend. It would be impossible for him to have any romantic feelings for me.

“Yeah, and I don’t have tits,” she said, looking down at her double Ds.

“Why would he even like me other than me being his best friend?”

“Babe, are you kidding me? You’re smart and pretty. You have perky boobs, just the handful, and guys dig that.EspeciallyEthan.” I looked down at my chest and my cheeks warmed.

“Ethan does not stare at my breasts,” I said, thinking of those diamond-like eyes on my girls. “He would never.”

She shrugged. “How would you know? You’re too busy staring at his eyes, wondering how he would look when he fu—”

“Katherine!Hai Bhagwan, get your mind out of the damn gutter.”

“I’m telling you the truth. Besides, you have dimples and who doesn’t love dimples?”

Shaking my head at her, I checked the time on my watch. “I will be late for my art class. See you at the bleachers?”

“Don’t you have a music class?”

My nose scrunched. “Yes, I do. Wish me luck because Paul is going to be there. See you soon.”

???

“So, are you free this weekend?”

I lifted my fingers from the black and white keys and looked at Paul, who was gazing at me with his forest green eyes. I forced myself to remember the day he made me cry and Ethan punched him, dragging me away from the whole scene.

“No, Paul. I’m busy,” I said. “Can you please stop asking me the same question?”

“I want you to know that my past encounter doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings for you. I really want to hang out with you, maybe take you out on a date.”

I would have blushed and accepted his sweet proposal if he hadn’t strung me along for one entire year. Paul Corey was my crush and now I wondered what I had seen in him. Despite being handsome and in the swim team of Winter High, he was the definition of an asshole. He came to our school for piano sessions for practice and to annoy me.

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